Akshay is reponsible for everything

It looks like the slump in the music industry is over as music directors and other technicians have hiked their prices. Composer Pritam Chakraborty blames actor Akshay Kumar for this sudden hike.

‘It’s all because of Akshay Kumar,’ says Pritam Chakraborty with a straight face. ‘When he started charging unheard-of prices (apparently in the vicinity of Rs.300 million) the entire economics of an average film project altered drastically.

‘Today my musicians, arrangers and programmers are asking for a steep hike in their remuneration. I’ve no choice but to hike my fee accordingly.’

Though Pritam doesn’t mention a specific amount, his fee has apparently gone up from approximately Rs.700,000-800,000 per score to around Rs.1.2-1.5 million, industry sources said.

All other composers, including the successful Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Vishal-Shekhar, apparently charge similar amounts.

But after the release of the soundtrack of ‘Singh Is Kinng’, which has been sold at a staggering price of Rs.135 million, composer Pritam is likely to hike his fees again.

‘The film redefines the parameters of film music sales. This kind of price for a movie soundtrack was unheard of after people stopped buying music off the shelf as much as they used to, thanks to computer and television outlets,’ said Pritam.

However, he hasn’t benefited much from the profits raked in by ‘Singh Is Kinng’.

‘We musicians remain underpaid specially when the music industry undergoes a slump. For me, the turning point was the soundtrack of ‘Jab We Met’, which gave me a chance to be unusually creative and then ‘Race’ that had peppy item songs,’ he said.

Music maestro A.R. Rahman is a price apart. Apparently, his fee per score used to be around Rs.15 million that, considering the all-round escalation in movie budgets, has gone up to Rs.25 million.

Last year’s flamboyant flavour Himesh Reshammiya has stopped doing music for films that do not feature him in the cast. So he cannot be counted among the musicians in the race.

However, composer Aadesh Shrivastava, who composed chartbusters like ‘Say shava shava’ in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ and ‘Merii makhanaa’ in ‘Baghban’, feels the bubble is an illusion.

‘And it’s bound to burst. Who are these people who are suddenly paying in multi-millions for music rights when everyone knows music doesn’t sell these days. Very frankly, I look at the Rs.135 million claim for the ‘Singh Is Kinng’ soundtrack with great scepticism,’ said Shrivastava.

‘Whom are they giving that kind of money to? The film’s leading man Akshay or the music composer Pritam? Have they given Pritam even a fraction of the money they’ve got for the music rights?’ he asked.

Shrivastava feels film music is going through an era of unhealthy competition.

‘I remember when Laxmikant-Pyarelal had composed the qawwalli ‘Parda hai parda’ for ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, R.D. Burman was so thrilled that he immediately congratulated the duo and was inspired to compose a qawwalli ‘Hai agar dushman’ in ‘Hum Kissi Se Kam Nahin’.

‘Today the competition is so unhealthy. If two plagiarised songs click in a movie, another music director will offer to rip off four songs for the same producer and make them chartbusters. Today, when a listener hears a song, his first reaction is, ‘Where is it stolen from?’

‘Very honestly I see no future in Hindi film music,’ he remarked.

New man in Sonam Kapoor’s life

Looks like Sonam Kapoor has found her new love in Kunal Kapoor. This Bollywood Kapoor Jodi is nowadays often scene roaming around coffee shops, malls, etc with hand in hand.

Looking at the recent happenings in both the stars life they really could heal each others broken heart. Where Ranbir Kapoor dumped Sonam for hottie Deepika Padukone, Kunal Kapoor too had a break up with gorgeous Dia Mirza.

So the couple could surely understand each other’s situation and try to bring happiness on their respective lives. Especially, Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam was so depressed after her break up with Ranbir that she went for a 2 months hideout.

But we would like to warn this emotional girl about Mr Kunal who has not only ditched Diya Mirza but also has an flirtatious history of dumping Raima Sen.

Being an emotional girl we would recommend Sonam to think twice before moving ahead in her relationship with this flirt natured guy.

Twinkle wasn’t spying on Akki and me

Twinke Khanna made a sudden entry on the finale day of the IIFA 2008 event. Was it to check on her husband since Katrina and Akshay were performing together and there was no sign of Salman around?

She clung to Akshay throughout and made sure he never left her side even for a few moments or even attend his calls.

There were talks going around that Katrina was trying to call up Akshaye frantically before the performance but Akshay didn’t pick up the phone. Was it because Twinkle was sitting with him?

Kat baby got so pissed off with all these stories that she decided to give to give it back, “People need to stop imagining so much. This is pure imagination on someone’s part.

Akshay Kumar came in for the show in the night and left right after as he had a flight to catch. I had dinner with Twinkle and some of her friends after that and even my mom was with me. So what’s with these stories?”

Sick of comparison with Hrithik Roshan

His resemblance to Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan may have helped him strike a cord with movie buffs even before his maiden appearance on tinsel screen, but actor Harman Baweja is not happy with the comparison.

“My looks are not something that I have manufactured. It is what I’m born with. There might be some similarity with Hrithik, but I completely disagree that we look the same or I am following his dancing or acting style,” Harman said during a product promotion function in the capital.

Harman even got irritated when some audience members kept on inquiring about his resemblance with Hrithik. “Chill. Don’t repeat, I have already answered it, ” he said.

The actor who is all set to debut with his futuristic flick ‘Love Story 2050, ‘ said, there are several actors in the industry whose resemble each other.

“The tradition of seeking similarity among the actors is not a new trend. When Shahrukh Khan began in the industry, he was compared to Dileep Kumar and similarly Diya Mirza looks like Aishwarya and Priyanka Chopra is being matched with Madhuri Dixit, ” the actor said.

Harman, who is being launched by his filmmaker father Harry Baweja in the mega-budget science fiction film ‘Love Story 2050, ‘ has in the movie performed several dance sequences that resembles that of Hrithik Roshan.

Astrologer told me not to Invest in IPL

Exuberant, chirpy, happy-go-lucky Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, who has now turned into a businesswoman, says she invested in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in spite of warnings from an astrologer friend.

‘In spite of the warning from my astrologer friend, I went for the deal as I had a gut feeling that it is the future. I told my friend that if it doesn’t work for me then I would become the 50th wife of the Sultan of Brunei, ‘ Preity, who co-owns the IPL Mohali team, told.

The star of hits like ‘Salaam Namastey’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, Preity said it was only in a developing country like India that one could think of buying a sports team.

‘The scenario is going to change after 10 years. One can never dream of buying a team like Manchester United or Arsenal today in a country like England.’

Preity bought Kings XI Punjab in partnership with her boyfriend Ness Wadia and Karan Paul of Apeejay Surrendra Group and Mohit Burman of Dabur. They paid $76 million for the franchise.

Although Preity’s team failed to reach the final, she is not complaining.

She said: ‘My team performed well and I am happy with all the team members and will continue my support for the team.’

As far as book balancing was concerned, she said this had not been a profitable year but was optimistic they would do better next time.

How long will her association with the team last?

‘I am there for life. I am not there just for the sake of it. First people took me as a brand ambassador and then as a face value, but I wanted to make people take me seriously in the game and I did my best to prove myself.

‘I think I was successful (in this), ‘ the actor added.

‘I do things which I believe in and am passionate about, be it the IPL or films. I give my heart and soul to them, ‘ Preity said.

Now that IPL is over, Preity is concentrating on her films and the ‘Unforgettable’ world tour with the Bachchans starting July 18.

She will be touring the US, Britain and Canada with Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya. Riteish Deshmukh and music directors Vishal-Shekhar are also a part of the tour.

‘I am very excited to go with them as Abhishek and Ash are my great friends. Besides, the participation of guest stars like Akshay Kumar, who is joining us in Canada, Madhuri (Dixit) in the US and Shilpa Shetty in London, will add to the excitement.

‘This is the first time when we will be joined by performers from different parts. The audiences will be huge and we are expecting an overwhelming response.’

Apart from this she will be busy with ‘Harr Pal’, ‘Heroes’, a cameo in the Salman-Kareena Kapoor starrer ‘Main Aur Mrs Khanna’ and Deepa Mehta’s Punjabi film ‘Heaven On Earth’.

People simply love Vidya when Wet

Believe it or not, Vidya Balan’s kismet is tightly connected to monsoon. How? Very simple, see most of Vidya’s hit films, be it Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa or Heyy Babyy, all were released during monsoon and enjoyed sprinkle of cash at the box office.

You may not look that much satisfied with the reasoning though, but you have to think and believe that Guru was a hit and among few of her screen presences in Guru, Vidya had a drenched-in-rain scene which was obviously the reason behind Guru flaunting a hit.

Unfortunately, people spent time talking about Abhi-Aish and others in the flick. Thus, though the film was not released in monsoon, the film had a monsoon scene to boost Vidya kismet.

I know you must be thinking about the other side of the coin. Thus I have the list of her other films like Salaam-E-Ishq, Bhalo Theko (Bengali) and Halla Bol which domed at the box office for a simple and single reason of not releasing at the monsoon.

Guess what! Vidya’s Kismat Konnection is getting released during monsoon and thus leaving no room to think of its failure at the box office. What else, Vidya has nothing but to wish re-releasing Halla Bol and Salaam-E-Ishq during this monsoon to click hit.

Jokes apart, guess what Vidya will be singing all these days… “Rain rain, come again, make my releases worth and bless me with gains”.

Koena is paying price for bad surgeries

What if your house is old and dilapidated?

You should obviously go for a plastering and renovating the walls and all. But what if your house is well enough to show the gloss for which you have spent so much and despite that you are insisting on its renovation?

Of course, you must either be too keen on changing matter or must be having problem with your… you know what I mean!

It seems Bolly babe Koena Mitra also falls into the second category which is either busy thinking for change or goes crazy for having nothing else to do. The actress seemingly has decided to follow on the footsteps of famous pop singer Michael Jackson these days.

Starting with a boob job Koena further went for face lift followed by surgeries on her nose and lips. But all this has worked in a negative way for this Saaki Re girl.

Instead of enhancing her beauty these surgeries have had a horrific effect on her once attractive face. That maybe the reason that this bindaas babe can’t manage a single film and is left with very little money.

Looks like Koena would have to again go for different surgeries to regain her past look. But beware Koena till the date you finish with your surgeries it isn’t too late for you.

In Bollywood, one is remembered only while he or she is seen on the silver screen or else this glam world’s memory is too short.